Monument Park will undergo a makeover this summer.Jim Harger | Mlive Media Group

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – A makeover of downtown’s Monument Park should begin later this month and be completed by the end of September in time for downtown’s ArtPrize competition, according to plans approved by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) on Wednesday, July 10.

The makeover of one of the city's oldest parks will relocate its Civil War monument to make it more visible and improve sight lines to the storefronts along the northwest side of the street.

The DDA approved its share of the $547,600 project when it signed off on a $405,600 contract with Lodestar Construction, Inc. The city’s sewer and water funds will kick in $96,000 to replace underground utilities. Consumers Energy will reimburse the city $73,000 to replace its conduits and manhole covers.

Those plans call for a re-shaping of Veterans Memorial Park by installing an oval-shaped “commemorative walk” around which the park’s war memorials would be situated. The two large pylons dedicated to World War I veterans would remain in place.

The square-shaped pool in the park’s center would be replaced by an oval-shaped reflecting pool. Additional seating would be added around the oval as well as space for future memorials.

Stone and masonry arches would be added to the park’s north and south entrances with pylons lining the main entrance on the park’s southern side.

The building on the west side of the park will be redeveloped to provide restrooms and a coffee shop with outdoor seating to resolve security problems in the park.